Bulimia can you die

What started as a weight-loss strategy for this year-old Abu Dhabi resident soon became an addiction that she still cannot escape. Despite not successfully losing weight. Her signature binge is a large loaf of bread and a jar of Nutella, which she can eat in less than an hour.

This is normal. I have a highly paid job, a busy social life and a healthy relationship. How could I hold all that together if I was ill?

Like Laura, many bulimic sufferers are highly functioning — educated, intelligent, affluent women leading what look on the surface like very successful lives. So, what is making such smart women in public so stupid in private?

And certainly the Western societal pressure to be thin has an impact, and on young girls especially. So, not only are purging bulimics wasting their time and energy, they are also putting their health — and in rare cases lives — in jeopardy. She cites a patient of hers who used a toothbrush to induce vomiting and needed surgery after accidentally swallowing it. Bulimia can be fatal.

It has always been assumed anorexia is the most fatal of the eating disorders, but a study published in in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing revealed the estimated mortality rate for bulimia nervosa to be up to 19 per cent. However, the most recent study published in American Journal of Psychiatry, revealed for the first time reliable mortality rates for bulimia that showed it as having elevated mortality risks, similar to those found in anorexia.

One may also ask, does bulimia shorten your life? Bulimia doubles the risk of premature death. Patients diagnosed with anorexia in their 20s have 18 times the risk of death compared to healthy individuals of the same age. Reality: People with bulimia are at a high risk for dying , especially if they are purging , using laxatives and doing excessive exercise. Many people with bulimia have died from cardiac arrest which is usually caused by low potassium or an electrolyte imbalance.

Others have died from a ruptured esophagus. Bulimia statistics tell us that the lifetime prevalence of bulimia nervosa in the United States is 1. This translates to approximate 4. Includes Diseases: Bulimia nervosa. Can you live with bulimia? Living with Bulimia Nervosa. The good news is, bulimia is treatable and recovery will help you slowly take back control. As a person struggling with bulimia you may find yourself conducting your behaviors in secret, which produces shame and disgust during a binge, but a sense of relief following a purge.

How does bulimia kill? Bulimia can be fatal. What are two health consequences of bulimia nervosa? The health consequences of bulimia are most often related to purging behaviors. Electrolyte imbalances. Patients with bulimia nervosa should be monitored for these cardiovascular complications. Even during recovery , patients with bulimia nervosa experience effects on their cardiovascular health.

Encourage her steps towards mental and physical health. If she is in an inpatient program, call her, email her, or if possible, visit.

If she is receiving outpatient treatment and needs to eat an extra snack at school, sit with her. Recovery can feel like a very lonely process. Bulimia is a serious mental health problem that is caused by a wide range of biological, psychological and social factors. Reasons why someone may develop bulimia can be very different between individuals with bulimia. Although bulimia is hard to cure completely, many people who have it do get better, although they may have relapses from time to time.

In general, the outlook for people with bulimia is more positive than for those who have anorexia nervosa, another eating disorder. Scientists have also discovered through the use of brain studies that neurological abnormalities contribute to the development of bulimia nervosa.

This may be a result of altered brain chemicals, such as serotonin levels, which contribute to the dysregulation of mood, appetite, and impulse control in bulimia.

It can also throw your electrolytes out of balance and put strain on your heart. This can cause an irregular heartbeat arrhythmia , and in some severe cases, a weakened heart muscle and heart failure. Bulimia can cause low blood pressure, a weak pulse, and anemia. In the United States , bulimia nervosa is the second most common eating disorder in population groups.

The overall presence of bulimia in year old females and males as 1. Treatment Options With appropriate treatment, those struggling with bulimia nervosa will be able to reverse most of the physical symptoms and lead a normal, healthy life.

Unfortunately, dental issues including tooth decay, breakage and discoloring may not be reversible and may require medical intervention. Unlike anorexics, most bulimics are aware that they have an eating disorder. They will often go unnoticed though because they tend to hide their disorder. Additionally, bulimics can be of normal weight, underweight, or overweight, making it even more difficult to notice the disorder.

If you or someone you love has an eating disorder, we can help. Have a confidential conversation with a counselor right now. Call Here is a breakdown of nine different conditions commonly associated with Bulimia which can be fatal:.

Ketoacidosis: This is an extremely dangerous condition that can lead to sudden coma and death when high acid levels build up in your blood. Seizures: Bulimia sufferers have a higher chance of suffering from seizures or fits which can cause brain damage and death. Pancreatitis: This is a potentially life-threatening illness which involves digestive enzymes attacking your pancreas. It can be caused by the excessive use of laxatives or diet pills. Electrolyte Imbalance: Dehydration, the loss of potassium and the loss of sodium can cause electrolyte imbalances.

Abnormal electrolyte levels are common in bulimics and can cause sudden cardiac arrest. Suicide and Depression: Bulimia is exhausting and depressing.